Empowerment is a fundamental element of healthcare delivery and patient satisfaction. A variety of factors play a role in this process.
HealthTap is one such company, striving to empower patients through digital communications with doctors. They believe that increased engagement will result in better patient outcomes.
Patient Engagement
Engaging patients in their healthcare has the potential to improve their wellbeing and cut costs. Active patients are better able to maintain control over their condition, take medications as prescribed, which leads to fewer complications or unnecessary trips to the healthcare provider or emergency room.
A healthcare system can actively engage patients in their health by giving them the power to make decisions about their care and providing them with information about their disease. Patient engagement may also take on a personalized approach, emphasizing personalized health care and creating strong connections between patients and healthcare providers.
Patient engagement remains a challenge for healthcare systems, despite its critical role. Personal and systemic barriers such as limited health literacy, lack of access to healthcare information or digital tools, and low trust in healthcare institutions can all hinder patient involvement.
Patient Education
Patients who are seeking health information or just want a better understanding of their conditions and treatment options must receive patient education to increase understanding, adhere to treatments more effectively, and ultimately result in improved outcomes.
Additionally, it assists patients in managing their conditions and conquering fear. Furthermore, it enables them to ask healthcare team questions and be more involved in the care process.
When providing patient education, it is essential to remember that each patient has unique learning styles and requirements. You should identify how your students learn best and use this information when selecting materials and methods of instruction.
It is essential for patients to ask their healthcare providers questions regarding medications and post-discharge care. Neglecting to do this could result in poor health outcomes and increased costs.
Patient Access to Information
HealthTap is a national virtual primary care provider, providing top-quality doctor care at no cost to all Americans – with or without insurance. Their platform charges $15 monthly fees for various services like free texting with your doctor, $39 video appointments and $59 visits to urgent care facilities.
HealthTap Doctor Network requires doctors to undergo an intensive credentialing process. They must be board-certified in their medical specialty and possess a valid medical license.
They are further evaluated and verified by a panel of physicians and health experts. These physicians offer treatments in areas such as children’s, men’s, women’s health, mental and behavioural health.
HealthTap provides members with a host of useful features and perks, such as an AI-powered symptom checker that provides intelligent explanations for symptoms and the next best steps in care. Furthermore, customers can store consultation notes, test results and medication info in the HealthTap app for future reference.
Patient Advocacy
Patients often require someone to stand by them, answer questions, take notes, facilitate communication with medical personnel and generally help them be more involved in their care. This person is known as a patient advocate.
A patient advocate can be a nurse, social worker, geriatric care manager or other health care professional. They serve as an intermediary between patients’ medical team and insurance companies; helping them comprehend their condition and treatment options.
Telehealth platforms value this service greatly as it encourages members to be more involved in their care. Furthermore, it helps prevent unnecessary visits and hospitalizations.
Conclusion
HealthTap app also includes a symptom checker, which allows members to answer a series of questions for AI-powered explanations of potential causes and next steps. Customers can then share this information with doctors via text or email before the virtual consultation commences.
